Buckle



(No Model.)

B. N. PARKER.

BUCKLE.

Patented Marf6, 1888.

UNITE STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

ERASTUS N. PARKER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,078, dated March 6, 1888.

Application filed September 23, 1887. Serial No. 250,520. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASTUS N. PARKER, of Springfield, in the county of Hampdenand Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buckles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to that class of buckles in which a strap or rope is clamped between two abutting surfaces, as distinguished from buckles having a tongue which passes through one of aseries of holes in the strap; and ithas for its object to improve the construction of such buckles in such manner that the free end ofthe strap or rope may be more easily inserted between the abutting surfaces,will be more securely held thereby, and can be more readily loosened therefrom than with buckles as heretofore constructed.

To these ends my invention consists in a buckle the clamping members of which are composed of a roll having ribs or teeth thereon, and a contact device to engage said ribs or teeth, as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

' Referringto the drawings, in which likeletters designate like parts in the several figures, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred formof the buckle. Fig. 2 is" a similar view of the buckle having a slightly-modified form of the device which cooperates with the roll to clamp the strap. Fig. 3is a side elevation of the buckle shown in Fig. 1, the front side piece being removed and the rear one indicated by broken lines. Fig. 4c is a similar view of the form shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the roll. Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4., showing additional forms of the roll and contact device. Fig. 8 is a plan view of my invention as applied to a rope-fastening device. Fig. 9 is a side elevation, with the front side piece broken away, of the device shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the roll shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The letters A A designate the two side pieces of the frame of the buckle, which are preferably made of the form shown. Pivotally mounted between said side pieces, near one end thereof, is a tongue or contact device, B, (see Fig. 1,) the pivot being designated by theletter b, and mounted in a similar manner near the opposite end of said side pieces is a roll, 0, its pivot or shaft being designated by the letter 0. Said side pieces, con- ,tact device, and roll are common to all of the forms of my invention herein shown, and in each the clamping action is performed by the contact device in conjunction with a rib or tooth upon the roll; but the particular conformation of the contact device and also of the roll can be varied considerably without affecting the operation thereof, and of these variations I have shown several examples, which I will now proceed to describe.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the contact device B consists of a rigid plate, slightly curved longitudinally, and preferably having its rear end extending slightly beyond the pivot b and in a direction at substantially a right angle to the main portion of the plate. At the front end of the plate its upper or outer surface is curved, as shown, and meets the lower or inner surface at a point slightly below the plane of pivots b 0 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, and near said front end are laterally-projecting lugs b, which, by contacting with the upper edge of side pieces, A, serve as stops to prevent the plate from being drawn below the position shown in said Fig. 3, and

also as finger-pieces to facilitate raising it to' the position shown in Fig. 1.

The roll shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is substantially triangular in cross-section, having three longitudinal ribs or teeth, 0, and the surface of said roll extends from each rib or tooth to the next one upon a curve corresponding substantially with that of the front end of the contact device B. The roll is free to revolve upon its axis, and the radial projection of its ribs or teeth is so proportioned to the length of the contact device B that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 the rib or tooth above said. contact device will overlap the front end of the latter, as shown.

The letter S designates a strap, the end of which is secured to the contact device B in front of its pivot, as shown, whereby a strain exerted upon said strap in the direction of its length will draw the front end of said contact device toward roll 0, and the letter S designates the free end of the same or another strap.

The operation of this form of the invention ICO will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 3. The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the end of strap S is inserted between the roll and contact device. Upon pulling said strap taut the strain exerted upon strap S draws the front end of the contact device into contact with the inner side of strap S, and as additional strain is exerted upon said strap S the roll 0 revolves iu the direction of the strain, the contact device yielding in the same direction sufficiently to permit the ribs or teeth 0 to pass the end of said device until the strap S has been drawn as far as it can go, when, upon the release of the strain upon the end of said strap, the rib or tooth 0 next above the end of the contact device will be drawn into contact with the outer side of the strap and clamp it tightly against the curved upper side of the contact device, as shown in Fig. 3, the lugs b preventing further movement of said contact device downwardly. The strain exerted by the tightened strap S against the rib or tooth 0 next below the contact device tends to revolve the roll 0 about its axis and prevents the strap from slipping between the end of the contact device and the rib or tooth next above it. \Vhen it is desired to loosen strap S, a strain is exerted upon its free end sufficient to slightly revolve roll 0 in a direction to move its rib or tooth beari ng upon the contact devieeaway from said device and permit the latter to clear the-end of said rib or tooth, whereupon by raising the contact device slightly by means of its lugs 11 the strap S is released and can be at once with drawn. At this point I desire to call especial attention to some of the features of construction as embodied in this form of my invention.

It will be observed, in the first place, that the use of perforations in thestrap S is avoided, and I am thereby enabled to utilize the full strength of said strap, while the roll 0 is ready to grip the strap at any point, and thus secure the full amount of tension exerted upon the latter without lost motion. Again, the extended bearingsurfaces of the roll and contact device prevent the strap from slipping between them, while,said bearing-surfaces being curved, as shown, there are no sharp edges or angular surfaces to sever the strap by a continued clamping thereofin the same place; and, finally, but two of the ribs or teeth on the roll are in operative engagement with the strap at one time, and the wear on said roll is therefore distributed among its several ribs or teeth in such manner as to greatly prolong its operative career.

In Figs. 2 and 4 I have shown the same form of roll combined with a contact device, which, instead of being composed of a single plate, is formed of two members, B B", connected together transversely by a hinge or joint, b The rear member, B, is pivoted and has the strap S secured thereto in the same manner as previously described with reference to contact device B in Figs. 1 and 3, while the front member, B", instead of the lugs b, is provided with laterallyprojecting pins I), which project within longitudinal slots at in side pieces, A, whereby the front end of the contact device, instead of moving in the arc of a circle whose center is pivot b, moves in a right line toward and away from the roll, guided by slots a, as the two members thereof are moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4, and vice versa. Aside from this difference in the movement of the contact device, the operation of this form of the invention is identical with that previously described.

In Fig. 5 I have shown aroll, 0, having but two operative sides, which could be substituted for the roll C, if desired.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a roll, O having four ribs or teeth instead of three, and a contact device, B, which differs from the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3 only in having a notch or groove, b extending transversely across its curved bearing-surface, the function of which is to enable the corner of the contacting tooth c of the roll to depress the strap S within said notch or groove and secure'a firmer grip upon said strap. This form of the buckle can be used where extraordinary strain is to be encountered; but for all ordinary purposes the form shown in the preceding figures will be amply secure.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a roll, 0 having five ribs or teeth, and a contact device, 13, which, instead of entering between the teeth of the roll and clamping the strap S between its upper surface and the lower side of one of said teeth, is provided with an inwardly-extending groove, 1), directly at its front end, which groove is parallel with the ribs or teeth on the roll and of sufficient depth to receive the strap and the end of one of said teeth, as shown. This form of the buckle operates equally as effectually to clamp the strap S; but as it causes slightly greater wear upon the strap I prefer to use the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In Figs. 8, 9,"and 10 I have shown the adaptation of my invention to a device for fastening a rope or cord instead of a strap. In this form the side pieces, A, are continued rearwardly beyond pivot b, and united to form an eye to receive the fixed end of the rope It, the inner bearingsurface of which eye is preferably curved, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 9, to prevent undue wear upon the rope.

The form of the roll 0 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 6; but, in addition to the transverse depressions between the ribs or teeth 0, said roll 0 is provided with a groove, 0', extending around its periphery, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

The contact device B is preferably curved downwardly and outwardly in front of the lugs b, as shown, to bring its front end in the plane of the axis of the roll when said lugs contact with side pieces, A, and in its front end said contact device is provided with a transverse groove or depression corresponding to the groove about the periphery of roll 0.

The free end B of the-rope, being inserted between the roll and contact device, as previously described with reference to the strap, is drawn over the roll (I in the same manner, lying in the groove 0, and the contact device being lowered receives the rope in its groove and clamps it against the roll between two of the ribs or teeth 0. In this form of the invention I prefer to locate the pivot b slightly above the plane of the axis of roll 0', as shown in Fig. 9, as the front end of the contact device is thereby caused to pass below the plane of its pivot when clamping the rope and is less liable to permit the rope to slip. The rope R is released from the clamp in the same manner as previously described with reference to strap S-viz., by pulling upon its free end and revolving the roll sufficiently to permit the contact device to be elevated away from the rope.

Having thus described the various forms of my invention shown, it will be observed that,

as hereinbefore stated, they are all alike in having a frame, a roll provided with longitudi' nal ribs or teeth, and a contact device adapted to be moved toward and away from said roll and to co-operate with the ribs or teeth on the latter to clamp the strap or rope.

The buckle thus constructed will be made in various sizes, and can be used advantageously wherever tongue buckles have been used heretofore. It is simple in construction, composed of few parts, and yet capable of withstanding an enormous strain.

I do not wish to limit myself to the modifications shown and described, as it is obvious that still others could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In the buckle or similar device herein described, aframe, a roll having ribs or teeth thereon journaled in said frame, and a contact device mounted in saidframe in such manner that one end thereof can be engaged with and disengaged from the ribs or teeth on said roll, substantially as described.

2. In the buckle or similar device herein described, a frame, a roll having two or more longitudinal ribs or teeth thereon journaled in said frame, and a contact device pivotally mounted in said frame in such position that its free end can be caused to engage the ribs or teeth on said roll, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In the buckle or similar device herein described, a frame, a roll having a series of longitudinal ribs or teeth thereonjournaled in said frame, a contact device pivotally mounted at one end in said frame and having its opposite end adapted to engage one of the ribs or teeth on said roll, and one or more stops to limit the movementof said contact device, substantially in the manner set forth.

4. In the buckle or similar device herein described, a frame, a roll journaled therein having a series of longitudinal ribs or teeth and a curved surface between said ribs or leeth, and a contact device pivotally mounted in said frame, and having a portion thereof adapted to be inserted between the ribs or teeth on the roll and curved to conform substantially with the surface of the roll between said ribs or teeth, substantially as set forth.

5. In the buckle or similar device herein described, a frame comprising the side pieces, A A, a roll having longitudinal ribs or teeth thereon journaled in said frame at or near one end thereof, a contact device mounted upon 'a pivot at or near the opposite end of said frame and having its front end adapted to enter between the ribs or teeth on the roll, and means for securing a strap or similar device to said contact device between its pivot and the roll, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. As an article of manufacture, a buckle consisting ofside pieces, A A, roll 0, having ribs or teeth a, journaled between said side pieces,near one end of the latter, and contact device B, mounted upon pivot b near the op posite end of said side pieces, said contact de vice having its front end curved, as shown, and having the laterally-projecting lugs b, substantially as shown and described.

ERASTUS N. PARKER. 

